Christof the lobster slayer

Last night was lobster night!! This was the first crack and eat lobster session for the Jankes so we had a lot of fun. The biggest challenge was cooking 5 lobsters at one time. Thankfully, GG saved the day by letting me raid her cooking pots.

Getting ready for the hot tub

The lobster slayer

Table full of lobster

Oma's sweater

Oma made Liam a sweater which has the cutest buttons. They are lambs with legs and feet that dangle through the button holes.

(Click on the picture to enlarge to see the buttons)

Liam likes his sweater!!

Baby's first Christmas

One advantage of being a 'Germerican' is that Liam will get to celebrate both German and American Christmas traditions. We celebrated German Christmas on Christmas Eve and American Christmas on Christmas morning. When Liam is old enough to know what all this means he will be in for some fun!!

Christmas morning started with the shot heard 'round the block, followed by Poppa's peeling tires at at 5:15. Since all the kids in our house are big kids we went back to sleep and found our stockings around 9:00. It was then off to Mom and Dad's house for Christmas brunch at 10:00.

The Germans took stockings very seriously


Liam and Nanna, Christmas morning


The Christmas gang


Can this girl take a picture or what?!

Sweet little Jesus boy

Liam as Baby Jesus for the Christmas Tableau during the Family Service at Trinity on Christmas Eve. (The picture is a little blurry but we were trying to take a picture before the service started without the flash because we didn't want the camera distracting from the prelude music.)

He was a sweet little Jesus boy. He stayed very calm for the entire service. :)

'Bias as Joseph

Unfortunately, I don't have any other picture from Christmas Eve at Granny's because I ended up needing to tend to baby Jesus, who was past his bed time by the time dinner ended.

German Christmas

Since we are blending both the German and American traditions for Christmas, we had our German Christmas last night. Liam gave me the gift I asked for . . . he fell asleep at 8:00 PM and only woke up once to eat at 2:15 AM. He then slept till 7:00 AM!!

Christof gave Tobias a remote controlled helicopter (long story).
Before bed it was slamming into the ceilings, walls, counters, etc.

Christof wins the prize for 'best wrapping!!

Rocking and rolling

It's the most wonderful time of the year. Family is together and that means Liam's little bottom never hits the ground!! He is loving time with his German family. He has been rocking and as of yesterday - rolling!

Rocking with Oma

Hanging out with Onkel Christof

Why life is great when Oma is around!!

Dinner with the Jankes and the Crippens - - without them we would not be here

And for my newest trick - - I can roll myself over!!

Liam's baptism

Today's was Liam's baptism. We had a wonderful service. Not only was it Liam's baptism but he did not fuss or make a sound the entire time!! After the service we had a seven course meal with the family at home. It was a very special day and we are so glad we got to share it with our families.

Lots of pictures follow . . . but it was a big day so we needed lots of pictures. :)

Preparation for the meal started yesterday. Christof and Mami hard at work.

After the prep the men had to play . . . soccer, that is!

An evening relaxing in front of our first fire. Christof and Tobias did a good job with the fire since I managed to buy fire wood but gave no thought to kindling wood!!

Christof and Mami getting Liam dressed

Liam in the Janke family baptismal gown

Following the baptism we had a celebration lunch at home. The meal consisted of seven courses. The menu was as follows:

First Course
Champagne / Juice Cocktail

Second Course
Baguette with olive paste, brie, tomato, cucumber

Third Course
Pear and watercress salad with toasted pecans, blue cheese, vinaigrette & honey

Fourth Course
Zuppa Toscana

Fifth Course
Salmon tartar over zucchini carpaccio

Sixth Course
Turkey cutlet on a bed of leek and bacon

Seventh Course
Yogurt mousse with raspberry puree

Coffee, Espresso, Schnaps & Truffles

Liam is fascinated by Onkel Dodi. Don't worry . . . 

he is not arching his back the way the gown makes it look!!!

Celebration lunch

Place setting 'grown up table'

Place setting 'kids table'

Taking a break between courses

The happy boy

Mini me

Liam - er, I mean Tobias at 3 months

Tobias asked his parents to bring some baby pictures of him since he could not remember what he looked like as a baby. We had so much fun looking at them. Looks like Daddy won the design competition. Tobias now calls Liam 'Mini Me'.